I'm very lucky to live and work in the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. Surrounded by lots of very good runners I've always lacked the confidence to race, worried of being the last one to roll in. My running is very sporadic always on the fells or scenic trails and usually involves lots of walking on the uphills and stops to enjoy the scenery, avoiding roads as much as possible and generally is on a when I feel energetic basis. When given the opportunity to join the Butterfly Conservation's Great North Run team this year I decided to challenge myself and enter my first road race. It will be a fantastic challenge to put myself out of my comfort zone and push myself, whilst knowing I'm raising money for a great charity.  

Butterfly Conservation is the UK charity dedicated to saving butterflies and moths. Butterflies and moths are key indicators of the health of our environment. Their fragility makes them quick to react to change so their struggle to survive is a serious warning about our environment. The disappearance of these beautiful creatures is more serious than just a loss of colour in the countryside. Butterfly Conservation improve landscapes for butterflies and moths, creating a better environment for us all.

 Find out more at www.butterfly-conservation.org